Let the games begin as South African athletes go for gold

Of the Australian Olympic team of 460 athletes, 45 were born in South Australia or trained in South Australia during this Olympic cycle. They will represent Australia in 12 sports including cycling, hockey, swimming, rowing and athletics.

Thirty-seven of the selected athletes are South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) scholarship holders or graduates, and have been supported by SASI’s funding programs, elite performance services and day-to-day training environments.

Among the South Australians competing is Jess Stenson, who is making her third Olympic appearance in the women’s marathon, having last competed in Rio 2016. Seven months after giving birth to her second child, Ellie, Jess ran a personal best of 2:24:01 at the Daegu Marathon, earning her place on the Australian team.

Callum Peters is aiming to make history in Paris by becoming the first Australian boxer to win a gold medal. The local boxer from Davoren Park is one of two Aboriginal boxers selected for the Australian team.

Zachery Schubert has been working towards his Olympic debut in beach volleyball for the past 11 years, overcoming setbacks and injuries to achieve his dream after undergoing surgery on both knees in 2021.

Sophie Linn (pictured right) is a SASI student competing in the women’s triathlon.

SASI Director Keren Faulkner congratulated the South Australian and SASI athletes on their selection and praised them for their tireless effort and dedication.

“I am so proud of these selected athletes and the role SASI plays in supporting athletes to achieve elite sporting events – our bespoke holistic training programmes, delivered by the best coaches and supported by the most qualified experts in science and health, are a recipe for success,” said Faulkner.

“It is also a huge compliment to the various organisations and pathways within sport in South Australia who have played a part in our athletes representing Australia across a wide range of individual and team sports.

“Seeing our athletes excel on the world stage brings pride and joy to the people of South Australia, and spreads values ​​of sportsmanship, hard work and community spirit, while also promoting a healthy lifestyle.”

Selected SASI staff will support the team in Paris, where hockey head coach Hugh Purvis will join the Hockeyroos as assistant coach and performance analyst Tim Rawlins will work with the Dolphins swimming team.

More information about the Australian Olympic Team can be found on the AOC website and the competitors for the Paris 2024 South Australian Olympians can be found on the SASI website.

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